Okay, alright, clue me in. Give me the secret decoder ring.

[Naturyl]

I have 2804 posts on DU, and I have a feeling hardly anybody knows who I am.

How does one become "established" on DU? Does it involve a lot of Lounge posting? If so, maybe that's the trouble, since this is only my second Lounge post ever.

I'm just curious about what it takes to become an "insider." Most of the time, I feel like my posts are being skimmed or ignored.

[Kali]

1. ask about eating at the Olive Garden.

or post pictures of cats/kittens

(I also understand - not from personal experience, mind you - that PMing naked pix will get you "established")

[hippywife]

2. I'm not an insider

nor do I care if I am. Just talk to people.

[av8rdave]

3. Being a relative unknown is a GOOD thing!

I rather like it.

[hippywife]

8. I kinda like it.

:hi:

[BarenakedLady]

4. You must flirt with me.

It's the only way "in".

:evilgrin:

[Orrex]

5. I thought that washing your car for you was 'the only way in'

I feel so used!

[BarenakedLady]

9. Oh...uhmmm

You forgot the wax.

:D

[Jamastiene]

6. Practice makes perfect.

In other words, post a little more. Sooner or later, you'll hit on something everybody wants to talk about or you'll say something that initiates a conversation/discussion. It's as simple as that, really. It's not about being an insider.

[femmocrat]

7. Welcome to the Lounge, Naturyl.

Just keep posting and soon everyone will remember you. :hi:

[leftyclimber]

10. I have only slightly over 1,000 posts and have been on DU longer than you have.

I have some very dear IRL friends who I have met through DU, and I enjoy spending time with them both on and offsite. There are some other folks with whom I have never met in person but I am friends with online because we have similar personal interests and have set up a de facto support network because we have similar needs.

I'm not worried about being "established," and I'm not quite sure how you're defining it. What I'm personally interested in is in meeting people who share common interests and passions. I don't care if I'm popular, in some sort of "in" group that I'm likely completely oblivious to, or the like. I care that I connect with people who are on the same wavelength as me.

Ultimately it depends on what you're looking for on the site. I've been online since the BBS days, and I don't couch a lot of my self-esteem on how people on the intertubes view me. We're all pixels, not people here. So I make connections with the pixels I relate to, and enjoy interacting superficially with other pixels. By interacting superficially, I sometimes end up making good friends. Sometimes I don't. No biggie.

I'm just not sure what you're trying to get out of the whole DU experience. That's the big question to consider.